Summer Is Calling

Has Summer vacation officially begun where you live?  We have 18 more days of school and then......

Whooopppeeee!!!!

I hope my kids can handle it.

You know.

The boredom.  haha

No, but seriously.

How many days in until they start

saying they're bored?  

Maybe I should start a pool......

Speaking of pools--

Poolside at our Tahoe condo.....

Playing with the cousins in our pool at home.

One of my favorite pics on the lake last summer.

South Lake Tahoe

I can't wait to start making Summer memories!!!

And I super can't wait for the South Hill Designs National Conference in July!!!!!!

Especially so I can come back and share all of our Amazing NEW products with you!

So, how do you wear Summer in your locket?

Here are a few ideas:

Pacific opal accents in the large silver with crystals look

like the clear blue water of the Caribbean.

Use a locket extender to add a mini to your large locket.

I love the use of the green crystals in this one.  

And that turtle is one of my favorite charms!

Create a beach scene in your locket!  I can even affix

your charms so they will stay in place if you want!

Browse my WEBSITE

or email me at my1charmedlife@gmail.com

for more information!

ROCK ON!!!

LOL

Summer is calling!!!

Let's Hear It For Teachers!

Teacher Appreciation week is coming up

May 5-9.

Who is your most special teacher?

What makes them special?

I remember almost every teacher I had.  

I loved my teachers.

As long as I can remember I wanted to be a teacher

because of what they did for me,

 how they made me feel, 

how they instilled a love of learning in me...

I am a teacher.

And it is one of my life's greatest blessings.

I teach Kindergarten.

Yes, they're cute.

But that has little to do with why I do it.

I love to watch the little light bulbs go on.

When they "get" it.

Especially when they learn to read and they have that *first* realization

that they just READ something.

Gives me goosebumps every time.

So I get lots of artwork made especially for me.

And lots of freshly-picked dandelions.

And of course, the oddly-shaped rock here and there.

And tons of hugs.

Oh, and they are just the best audience--

they laugh at every silly joke.  

Totally boosts my ego.

So being a teacher really gives me an even deeper appreciation, I think,

for those who teach my children.

For I know my own kids are not perfect.

I know.

Gasp!

And I know how exhausted those teachers feel at the end of the day.

And yet they still go home

and look things up

to share with my kids

because they asked a certain question that day.

And buy caterpillars

so my kids can watch them

change into butterflies.

And lug in their breadmakers

and bread mix

and jam

so the kids can make bread

like the Little Red Hen.

And search the Dollar Spot

at Target

to fill up the treasure box.

And every morning

open the door

with a smile

and a bright "Good Morning!"

while accepting the gifts of drawings

and dandelions

and rocks

as if they were the first

she ever received.

SO

If you would like to give your child's teacher 

a gift

of Appreciation

I have just the thing!

I'd LOVE to help you with this one!  

And I will give you free shipping 

in the U.S. with any order

you send to my email through May 5, 2014.  :)

Just use the subject line "Let's Hear It For Teachers!"

send to: my1charmedlife@gmail.com

Here are a few ideas, but you can create whatever you like:

It's the least I can do.

Because I appreciate YOU!!!

Have a Charming Day!

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

And the winner of this lovely silver locket and South Hill Flower screen is...............

Drum roll please.........................................

Michaela!  She was comment #4. 

Congratulations, Michaela!

Thank you to everyone who entered!  

I'm surprised more people didn't!  Maybe they didn't believe me.

Free.

Locket.

A

FREE

LOCKET!!!!!

Hmmmmmmmmmm..........

Michaela, please email me at kristen95020@gmail.com with your mailing info!  :)

Meanwhile, I am scrambling trying to get ready for Easter!  

I know it's a late one, but it sure doesn't feel like it.  

I am keeping it super simple this year.  A few goodies and a gift card

for my kiddos.  :)

And then, around the corner is Mother's Day!  

Have you thought about it yet?

Here are a few locket ideas for Mom!

If you order via my email address (above) by May1, 2014, and mention

my blog, I will give you 10% off your order.  :)

10% off all orders emailed to me at kristen95020@gmail.com through May 1, 2014.

Have a charming day!

Starfish

I have always loved the ocean and everything about it.

It's so peaceful.

Yet such a fierce force of nature at the same time.

It's as if there is another whole world out there.

Have you ever read the story of the starfish?

It's one of my favorites:

(Click the photo to enlarge and read :)  )

It is such a poignant reminder that, although sometimes it feels like

we try and try in vain to make a difference in the world,

we sometimes forget to see the difference we make for one person at a time.

I love it and try to remind myself from time to time

that this is what matters.

That I may not change the world single-handedly,

but I can make a difference to one soul,

one day at a time.

(To order this locket go to my website and find the

mini silver locket, starfish charm under "travel", and  one pack

of ice blue pearls under "accents"!  Only $32!)

What will you do today to make a difference?

Leave a comment if you feel inspired by the starfish.

*Don't forget to enter my Giveaway!

Have a charming day!

Don't Let Anyone EVER Dull Your Sparkle! (This post *might* contain a giveaway!)

Where to begin!  I feel like I have so much to tell you!!!  

Be sure and read this to the end-- there is a HUGE SURPRISE for you

as promised!!!!!

It has been quite a week!  Hey, how's the

weather where you are?  I hope it's starting to look

and feel like Spring!

Ok, I will start with my FABULOUS vacation!

Can you guess where we were?

That's right!-- DISNEYLAND!!!

And the best part was my husband and I didn't have to charge

 a single penny of it to a credit card, thanks to my amazing

SHD business.  

Happy Dance!!!

It was SO MUCH FUN!!!

My two crazy teenagers are in the very back row of that coaster!!!

The Disney's California Adventure park is awesome!

I had not been there in eleven years.  I last took my older two when they 

were 3 1/2 and 5!  So my youngest had never been, and my husband had not

been to Disneyland since he was a kid.

It was the best family time we've had in a very long time.

My kids didn't complain.

Not even once.

Ok, there's my April Fool's joke for the day!  haha

They might have complained.  A little.  

(But nothing a churro couldn't cure!)  

Alright, onto the BIG announcement from South Hill this week!  

We                   are                 growing!

That's right!

South Hill Designs is expanding into the UK this month!!!

So amazing!

If you know anyone in the UK you think would love this business,

please send them my way!  :)

So I think an awesome development like this is worthy of a GIVEAWAY!

Do you agree?

I thought you might.

Who wants to win this beautiful silver locket and South Hill Designs flower screen???  

  It's SO pretty in person!!!  

Here's how to enter:

1. Follow my blog by clicking "Join This Site" in the right hand column of this page.

2. "Like" my Facebook Page

3.  Leave a comment below this post letting  me know you did the two steps above.

I will use random.org to randomly select a winner!

Contest Ends April 15 at 9:00 pm Pacific.

*Winner will be announced on the blog and my FB page on 4/16/14!

I would LOVE it if you would share my blog link with your friends!

Have a Charming Day!

Life Is Like A Box Of Chocolates...

You never know what you're going to get.

Do you like surprises?  

I do!

I am going to have a HUGE surprise for you next week!

Did I say HUGE?

I meant

HUGE!!!!!!

I can't wait!

But since I know that's not very nice of me,

I will offer you something now to tide you over until

I can tell you the HUGE surprise!

That's just how I am.  lol

So if you order any Locket from my Website now until 4/1/14

and then leave a comment on my

Facebook Page 

I will send you a FREE chocolate charm!

You just never know what you're going to get!

Have a Charming Day!!!

Spring is Springing!

Hooray!  Happy Spring!  

Ok, ok I know some of you are still buried in snow.

But Spring is here.

It is.  

It's..............under the snow???

I really cannot imagine what that's like.  I lived in Upstate NY as a kid, but only until I was six.  Since then, snow has been something of a novelty.  I don't get to see it much and when I do, it's for fun.  I have lived in the Bay Area ever since, except for the time I spent in San Diego for college and a few years after.  

Ah.  I love sunshine.

So I'm sorry if it's still the "Winter That Refuses To End" where you live.  And I hope you soon see signs of Spring!!!  

Fingers crossed?

In the spirit of Springy things,  I am sporting this locket and the champagne wrap these days.  I thought about this locket and ordered the plumeria charms for it last week.   I just wanted a locket full of flowers.

It makes me smile.

And does not make me sneeze.

Happy Spring!!!